The real Jadeja

Behind the derisory nicknames is a loyal young man who has made the most of life's hard knocks

Sidharth Monga | February 2016

There is an instructive story about the origins of Jamnagar, and it could well be a myth. After Jam Rawal, the ruling prince of Kutch, avenged his father Jam Lakha's murder at the hands of his greedy and scheming cousins, he dreamt that the goddess Ashapura asked him to cross the waters and take his kingdom into Kathiawar, a peninsula on the Arabian Sea between Kutch and Khambhat. And so Jam Rawal moved, and began to look for a capital. On a hunt one day, he saw a hare fight tenaciously against wild dogs. The Jam is said to have thought: if this land can bear such brave hares, how brave might its men be? The place became his capital, Nawanagar, now known as Jamnagar, close to the Gulf of Kutch.

One of the Jam's father's cousins was a Jadeja, from a princely warrior clan that continued to rule parts of Kutch until India's independence. The Jadejas were an example of the sort of men Nawanagar produced, the kind the Jam had imagined back in 1540.

The days of kings and warrior princes are long gone in the world's largest democracy, but the yearning for lost splendour, the retention of certain historical quirks, and the remnants of royalty have made for great literature and cinema.

"You wander outside, I will hit. You so much as look outside, I will hit. I want Cricket Bunglow, home and studies. That's it"Jadeja's first coach

Yet it was unlikely when in the Jamnagar of the 1990s, Anirudhsinh Jadeja, a father of two girls and a boy, an occasional security guard without a fixed income, let his youngest child, Ravindrasinh Jadeja, take up the royal sport of cricket, once played there by such personages as Jam Ranjitsinhji and Jam Duleepsinhji.

Cricket was not young Ravindra's pastime; it was his escape, his answer to everything in life that didn't make sense. Even before he hit adulthood, Jadeja knew as much, and had it inscribed on his first car, a black Hyundai Accent he bought with his match earnings as an Under-19 cricketer. "Life is cricket," it said, as it roared on the highway between Jamnagar and Rajkot on hot Saurashtra afternoons, carrying the man who would become one of the fascinating characters of modern Indian cricket.

Life was tough for the children of Anirudhsinh and Lataben Jadeja. They lived in a one-room employee flat allotted to their mother, a nurse in a government hospital. In that regard this Jadeja family was modern. It used to be considered against the honour of the men of the Jadeja clan to have women go outside to work. Their oldest daughter, Naina, who now runs the restaurant Jaddu's Food Field in Rajkot, says their mother, Lata, was a sportsperson herself. She doesn't know what sport her mother played; she also remembers hearing from older folk in the family that Lata used to sing on the radio. Naina says whenever she asked Lata about those days, she never got a straight answer.

The Lata that Naina knew provided for the family. Whatever Anirudh brought home through his sporadic jobs was a bonus. Lata was a woman worn down by the effort of living. Naina remembers fondly how much she and Ravindra would get beaten by their mother. The middle sister, Padmini, would somehow escape by hiding at strategic times. All Naina says about her father is: "He was strict." "Strict" here implies more fear than discipline, more punishment than parenting.

The only son was a darling of mother and sisters alike. Lata made Ravindra sleep next to her, arm in arm. That's how she realised he sleepwalked. That's how she came to know he talked in his sleep. One night she called Naina to hear what Ravindra was saying in his sleep, and they strained to listen. Naina translates from Gujarati to Hindi: "Aye pakad, pakad. Mana kiya na, wahan nahin, yahan khada reh." (Hey, get it [the ball], get it. I told you not to stand there, stand here.)

Ravindra wasn't even 10 when cricket took over his life. It took him away from the tense atmosphere in the house. His mother and Naina encouraged him to stay out long. They were disturbed, though, when he cried every night. They prodded and prodded, but he wouldn't tell them why. One day Naina secretly followed him to his cricket, which was played in bare fields, with boys much bigger than him. Everybody used to bring a rupee to be part of the game, but Ravindra would never get to bat. By the time it was his turn, the bullies would announce the game was over. He feared being ostracised if he told of this at home.

One afternoon Lata, their mother, had a kitchen accident. She succumbed to burns a week later

That's when Mahendrasinh Chauhan entered Jadeja's life. Chauhan, an acquaintance of Jadeja's father, was a policeman, a small-time cricketer, and the coach at something called Cricket Bunglow, in the middle of Jamnagar. Don't go by the name - back then Cricket Bunglow was a bare field with a small building serving as a pavilion. Chauhan is not a qualified coach, but he is a strict disciplinarian with unique methods. To teach spinners flight, for example, he makes a boy stand in the middle of the pitch and asks the bowlers to bowl over his head.

The government-funded Cricket Bunglow was one of two options for eight-year-old Ravindra. If not "accepted" there, he was to be sent to the army school, which meant boarding there and staying away from his mother.

Getting accepted at Cricket Bunglow wasn't easy. Chauhan doesn't want to talk about the conversation he had with the parents when they left Jadeja with him, but he assured them Ravindra could stay if he was sincere about the game. Naina says the place is still known for its discipline. Nobody does "time-pass" there. Chauhan makes parents sign a contract making clear that Cricket Bunglow hasn't taken a penny for its services, that the parents can't make cricketing decisions for their sons while they are there, and that he can beat the boys all he wants.

A couple of days after interviewing the Jadejas, Chauhan agreed to accept Ravindra, who used to bowl seam-up back then. He didn't have the height for seam, so Chauhan turned him to spin. "He shot in height later," Naina says. "Also, he used to be so fair. Look what he has done playing for so long in the sun."

Cricket Bunglow became Jadeja's field of dreams.

Jamnagar can nudge 50 degrees in the summer. It didn't matter. There was no grass. It didn't matter. Fielding was given importance at the Bunglow. "That's the first thing that stands out about a cricketer," Chauhan believes. The kids used to dive on rock-hard, barren fields in the heat and go back home with bloodied arms, elbows and knees.

Jadeja was a particularly naughty kid. After a day's cricket he would stay back or go out wandering with his friends, who nicknamed him "Revadi". Naina would drop him off on a bicycle ("a bicycle was big for those times," she says), bring him his tiffin in the afternoon, and watch him play after lunch from across a netting, probably sitting somewhere near the Vinoo Mankad statue outside the Bunglow. "It was such a relief to watch him happy and watch him play," she says.

"Look, we have a rock star amidst us," the man said. Jadeja had no idea the man was Shane Warne

Naina could have made a journalist herself. Without letting Ravindra know, she would find out everything about him from his friends. "I would do my CID," she says proudly. Her "sources" used to tell her how he used to run along the top of the main boundary wall at the Bunglow. How he would climb any tree anywhere. The first time the ladies discovered Ravindra walking and talking in his sleep, they feared some spirit from one of the trees had possessed him.

Lata was worried when little Ravindra first travelled with Chauhan's team. Chauhan was told of the boy's sleep disorders. Chauhan asked them not to worry. And this is what Naina's "sources" told her: when Ravindra sleepwalked, Chauhan first asked him where he was going, and when he didn't get a reply, he slapped him hard. "From that day on, he has never sleepwalked."

Chauhan is proud of his ways. He says Ravindra was the one he beat the most. "I used to hit students," Chauhan says. "You wander outside, I will hit. You so much as look outside, I will hit. I want Cricket Bunglow, home and studies. That's it."

The first match that Ravindra played for Chauhan, he was asked to bowl the first over. He went for runs. Chauhan persisted with the same strategy in the next match. He went for runs again. "I was fielding at slip," Chauhan says. "I walked up to him, didn't ask him why he is going for runs. In the middle of the ground, in front of everybody, I just slapped him hard. He took five wickets that day."

While Chauhan may have coached through fear, there were certain aspects where he was ahead of his times. The focus on fielding was uncharacteristic of Indian cricket back then. He was big on fitness too. He would often make his boys do 25 laps of the ground, and take them on 15-kilometre "cross-country" runs around Jamnagar once a week. Just the fact that he opened the bowling with Jadeja.

Jadeja was what Dhoni wanted: a selfless cricketer who would do as he was told. If he wanted him to go swing the bat, Jadeja would be like, "Which part of the ground?"

Then there is a unique method of throwing taught at Cricket Bunglow. Underarm. Not like an injured bowler's underarm lob from the outfield. Flat out, but underarm.

"I believe it reduces the risk of injury," Chauhan says. "Moreover, the throw goes parallel. The time you spend getting up and throwing from above, my boys are done sending the ball by then. In run-out situations, even half a second is big. Just throw the ball as soon as you have controlled. Don't even bother getting up if you have dived or slid."

Watch replays of Jadeja's run-out of Brendon McCullum in the Auckland Test in 2014. Ross Taylor pushes the ball past midwicket into a vast open space, McCullum sees a two early and turns around to discover that Jadeja has made quick ground; he slides and throws underarm even before getting up fully, to beat McCullum's dive.

It makes Chauhan proud. The cricket he taught Jadeja was basic. "I used to tell him to bowl at the stumps, and then vary the pace a little bit. Bowl from wider, from closer. The ball has to turn. It doesn't mean sideways turn only, but it should do something different after pitching. Put in effort. I should hear you snapping the fingers when letting the ball go. If you put effort in it, then only the batsman will be beaten."

On a Star Sports show, Heroes, Jadeja is seen teaching a kid how to bowl spin. His instructions are simple too: "Split the index finger and middle finger along the seam, make sure the ball doesn't touch the palm, bowl from close to the stumps, and let the arm go as close to the ear as possible."

It is, as Narendra Hirwani once said, like driving. Work the clutch pedal and gear shift eyes closed, then try other tricks.

A commoner had become royalty by doing what commoners do. What could go wrong? In Jadeja's life, you never ask that question

The family was happy with how Ravindra was doing with his cricket. They would see his photo in the local newspapers when he did well, but the dream of playing for India hadn't yet taken root. He was just playing. The family was happy that he was insulated from domestic tensions.

Ravindra didn't make many demands, Naina remembers. No new clothes, no board games, just cricket equipment. "We used to carry such a big thaila [bag] on the bicycle everyday," Naina says. "Then we bought him a motorbike - a Bajaj Pulsar - on instalment."

That Pulsar didn't stay in the family for long. One afternoon Lata had a kitchen accident. Ravindra's friends from Cricket Bunglow took turns to be by their side while she struggled in the hospital. She succumbed to burns a week later. Ravindra was 15 or 16 at the time.

The Pulsar was considered manhoos [inauspicious] and sold off. Ravindra was selected for a National Cricket Academy camp, however, and at 17 he was picked for the 2006 U-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka, which he played alongside Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara.

During an incredibly tough period for the family, Naina, a nurse herself now, became Jadeja's mother and friend.

"I was 21-22 then," Naina remembers. "I had just taken my nursing exam and was waiting for the results. I didn't even know what you did in a bank. How to write a cheque. How to deposit money.

"I know many players who would have invited you to their room for tea or other drinks to get a good article written about themselves. I don't need it"

"This was also the time when Ravindra's game was picking up. His friends used to tell us he plays well, but we didn't know how well. He himself didn't play for a few days. He struggled to get over the loss. Twelve days after her death we got the news he had been selected in the U-19 team."

In Hindu families, the 10th to 13th days after a person's death are significant. On these days the family of the deceased performs rituals that mark the end of a self-imposed social isolation; they are the first attempts to return to normal life. On the third of these days, Ravindra was sent back to normal life. "As they say," says Naina, "When he [God] takes away something, he gives something in return."

Jadeja might not have demanded things of his parents, but he had a taste for bling. It helped that the IPL came around at the right time. At the first nets session for Rajasthan Royals, in 2008, Jadeja - sunglasses and sunscreen on, long hair, collar up - saw everybody get up and greet a white dude. When the man approached him, Jadeja just nodded from where he was sitting.

Jadeja had no idea the man was Shane Warne. The name stuck, as Jadeja proved himself to be a bit of a rock star to Warne. Years later, smoking a cigarette while watching Jadeja turn around a Test match at Lord's, Warne would say, "I know he loves strife. Loves a challenge." When Jadeja was selected for the World T20 in England in 2009, life was to change again.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted the 20-year-old Jadeja in a chase of 154 against England at Lord's. Jadeja was scrawny back then. He tried hard, again and again, but could neither time the ball nor muscle it away. Ask anybody what Jadeja is as a cricketer and they will tell you: fielder first, bowler next and batsman last. Here he was getting exposed in a high-pressure game, trying to come off with his weakest suit. Every dot, every single sent the asking rate soaring. He ended up with 25 off 35, with just one boundary. India, the defending champions, went out of the World T20 before the knockouts. A villain was born for the Indian cricket fan. A villain they would laugh at at every given opportunity.

Over the next year Jadeja would have plenty of time to look at his game. Before the 2010 IPL, Mumbai Indians showed interest in acquiring him; he reciprocated, thus breaking league rules. To demonstrate that he ruled with an iron fist, Lalit Modi banned Jadeja for a year, but the team, run by perhaps the most powerful man in India, Mukesh Ambani, got away.

India, the defending champions, went out of the World T20 before the knockouts. A villain was born for the Indian cricket fan. A villain they would laugh at at every given opportunity

"He would just lie around in the house," remembers Naina of the IPL season Jadeja missed. "His food intake went down. Would remain distracted. Didn't talk to anybody. Wouldn't watch TV. We didn't once put on the channel that showed the IPL. We used to let him be."

When Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings picked him up in the 2012 auction, they got themselves a grown man, stronger-built than the boy who froze at the World T20 at Lord's, but that also laid the base for more ridicule. He was now the most expensive IPL player. Part of a plum IPL franchise, trusted by the national captain and managed by the captain's friend, Arun Pandey, Jadeja was enjoying his cricket and the money that came with it. A farmhouse came up; horses, cars, motorbikes, weapons found their way there; the moustache discovered the Rajput twirl; in his abode away from the public eye, Jadeja was living like a Jadeja. Like a king.

Ask him about this, about where he learnt horse riding and swordsmanship, and he says, "This is in our blood. We don't need to learn it." The truth is, Jadeja always yearned for these things. When he didn't have them, he aspired to get them. He learnt to ride on friends' horses. He got it all and more.

On the field, he knew a different kind of royalty: Dhoni. Jadeja the player was happy to be a foot soldier. A rock star happy to be an opening act. Jadeja was what Dhoni wanted: a selfless cricketer who would do as he was told. Jadeja was still a fielder first, bowler next and batsman last. If Dhoni asked Jadeja to bowl over the wicket, Jadeja would. "Idhar se bhi daal saktay hain" (You can bowl from here too), Dhoni's cry would be the heard on the stump mic. If Dhoni wanted Jadeja to slow it down, Jadeja would. If he wanted darts, darts he would get. If he wanted him to go swing the bat, Jadeja would be like, "Which part of the ground?"

With the ball in hand, Jadeja was cleverer than given credit for. "If the pitch is turning, I want to bowl fast. Not give the batsmen time to adjust to the turn. If the pitch is not helpful, that's when I try to beat them in the air. There is no point showing off your tricks when the pitch is doing it for you." In the recent Delhi Test, in the face of an over-my-dead-bat defensive effort from South Africa on a slow pitch, Jadeja pulled out the tricks: going wide on the crease, letting the arm come down slightly round, and putting all of his shoulder into the delivery. How they fizzed past the outside edge.

Jadeja repaid all of Dhoni's faith. When people were ridiculing Jadeja's first-class triple-hundreds, Dhoni saw a Test bowler in him. Jadeja got Michael Clarke out five times in the home series in 2013. He then won India the Champions Trophy with the ball, in England. With the bat he was a big departure from the past generations of Indian cricket: not for him the 30 not out in a lost cause that would secure his place for the next game.

Long ago Naina asked Jadeja why he bats the way he does. Playing shots, getting out, which is different from how he bats for Saurashtra, as a proper batsman. "He told me one thing," Naina says. "'Should I listen to you or the captain? I have to play for the team.' If you observe, he always plays that way. He will never try to secure a fifty once he has reached 30-35. 'Should I do dhichoon dhichoon when the asking rate is 10?'"

Naina says Jadeja doesn't like talking cricket too much with her, but remembers him saying he wanted to play Test cricket. Dhoni made that happen too.

Ask him about where he learnt horse riding and swordsmanship, and he says, "This is in our blood. We don't need to learn it"

For Jadeja, Dhoni, a practical man, would make exceptions. In England in 2014, Dhoni went out of character to lodge a complaint with the ICC against James Anderson's sledging of Jadeja, which ended in Anderson allegedly pushing Jadeja in the passage between the playing area and the dressing rooms at Trent Bridge. This was a reversal of Monkeygate. India had no evidence to prove the push because the passage was the only place not under camera surveillance. There was no way an England player would testify against Anderson.

Against all advice, Dhoni went ahead with the complaint and fought all the way. The incident hijacked the whole series. All the attention turned to Jadeja. Under siege in the controversy, he took over Lord's, the scene of his downfall five years before, and he did it rudely and chaotically. Coming in at effectively 179 for 6 in the third innings, Jadeja danced at Anderson, swung at almost every ball, and swung like hell. Miss. Miss. Bang. Miss. Bang. Miss. Bang. This was a hare taking on wild dogs if ever there was one. Without a technique to speak of, Jadeja scored 68 off 57 to give India a match-winning lead.

When he reached 50 he brought out that sword celebration. Back home, Naina was stunned he had learnt to wield a sword. "It is very tough," she says. "The sword is so heavy, you can't move your wrist if you carry it. That was the first time I saw him do it. I don't know where he learnt it." He ended the game by running Anderson out. In the stands they sang "Oh Ravi Jadeja" to the tune of The White Stripes' "Seven-Nation Army."

Lord's remains India's only Test win outside Asia since the 2011 victory in Jamaica, and it was fashioned by Jadeja, who not many thought could be a Test player. A commoner had become royalty by doing what commoners do. What could go wrong?

In Jadeja's life, you never ask that question. In the Test after Lord's, Jadeja dropped the under-pressure Alastair Cook on 15 at second slip. A great start to Pankaj Singh's career was ruined, and Cook's 95 arguably gave his career a new lease of life. India lost the Test. The day after the Test, the ICC let Anderson off for lack of evidence. The English media, former Test cricketers among them, got on India's back, asking them to "man up", ignoring the incessant and puerile abuse that formed a part of "sledging". The year would only get worse when a shoulder injury took the fizz out of Jadeja's bowling.

Jadeja played the 2015 World Cup in Australia at about 70%. When India lost the ODI series in Bangladesh just after the World Cup, Jadeja was dropped. For the first time in his career, perhaps, Dhoni was himself on sticky ground in the limited-overs team. The source of Dhoni's power, board president N Srinivasan, was out too. In 2014, Jadeja had tweeted a message that read, "Need new HATERS the old ones are starting to like me." Haters is too strong a word, but the cynics were back again. Correlations were drawn between Dhoni's power and Jadeja's place in the Indian team. There existed some among the decision-makers who didn't rate him.

When I met him in October last year, it was not all that certain Jadeja's international career would resume. Bigger cricketers in his circumstances have used the press to present their case. Jadeja wasn't interested. The first time I approached him for an interview was a day before Saurashtra's match against Jharkhand in Rajkot, their second fixture of the Ranji season. Jadeja had already taken 11 wickets in the first. He was the last one to leave the nets. He spoke cordially, said he went home to Jamnagar in the evenings, and asked me to stay in touch. He gave me a number, which, it turned out, he had stopped using months ago.

That evening as I stepped out of my hotel, I saw Jadeja in the foyer. When I returned, he was there again, coming back in. The Saurashtra team was staying in the same hotel, and Jadeja was going nowhere. I saw him at breakfast in the mornings and in the foyer in the evenings on both days of the match. I nodded once in recognition, but realised he didn't want to do an interview, which I respected: he is the one cricketer who hasn't bothered with learning English or promoting himself or getting himself advertisements. Even with Hindi he only just gets by. However, I did let him know that he should have declined the interview in the first place.

Jadeja danced at Anderson, swung at almost every ball, and swung like hell. Miss. Miss. Bang. Miss. Bang. Miss. Bang. This was a hare taking on wild dogs if ever there was one

On the two days after the early finish to the match I would still see Jadeja in the hotel, always in a Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) tracksuit, with a turban-like cloth around his head. He was not going anywhere near home. He was struggling to adjust to life without international cricket, and his response was to play more and more domestically. In the October heat of Rajkot, with Saurashtra having won two matches already, the coach, Shitanshu Kotak, called nets.

I went to the session to meet Kotak for a story I was doing on the Ranji Trophy. I sat down with him after nets. The last man out was Jadeja, wearing that turban, moustache waxed and twirled, the SCA tracksuit on. They call him chhatrapati [king] in the Saurashtra team.

"Bhai saab, aapne sharminda kar diya mujhe" (Brother, you shamed me), he told me. "But what is it that I can talk?"

"I am doing a profile on you. I have met many people for this, but it is incomplete without you telling your story," I said.

"Two matches, 24 wickets, two fifties. That is enough to tell my story. That will send the message."

"No, I am more interested in how you got here. People should know where their cricketers come from."

And we laughed. It was as if he didn't consider that he had done something big with his career and life. He caught me off guard by proposing we do the interview right then, because this time he was really going home. I wasn't prepared for it, but our chat revealed a lot about the person.

I asked him about the turban. He held it in his outstretched hands, the way you do when seeking blessings at a temple. He had recently gone on a 350-kilometre foot journey to Mata No Madh, the house of Ashapura Mata, the goddess who appeared in Jam Rawal's dream. This cloth holds the blessings of the mata (mother goddess), he said.

At another point during the chat, his hands went up similarly. He said his father - "who has also got bored of me being at home all day" - advised him that if playing for India involved begging anybody, he had better come back to Jamnagar.

On the cricket field he torments Michael Clarke one series in one set of conditions, and becomes the popgun firing darts after dropping a crucial catch in another

"I have seen you here for so many days," Jadeja told me. "I know many players who would have invited you to their room and offered you tea or other drinks to get a good article written about themselves. I don't need it. I don't go around announcing new balls, I don't go around saying I am ready, I just do my work."

I told him I was not there to help him come back to the Indian team. I was there to talk about his childhood. Jadeja was miserly with stories. He told me about the days when he didn't even know this thing he played - bat-ball - was called cricket. Never as a child did he think he would make a living out of playing bat-ball. It was just his true love. Being in an open field, running after a ball, diving despite the hard surfaces, exerting himself despite the oppressive heat.

He told me he acquired his shoulder injury during a fielding drill in Australia before the World Cup. When the shoulder is not 100%, he said, you lose that control. It is not about just putting the ball there, you have to put the action on the ball. The bigger victim of such an injury is the confidence.

He was aware of his public image to the point of resentment. He was aware of the "Sir Ravindra Jadeja" jokes. He was also aware that his closeness to Dhoni is considered to have given him more than he deserves. Asked about that, he said, "Dhoni bhai is not an idiot. He knows he has to win to survive. Why will he pick players who will come in the way of his winning?"

About the Twitter jokes, he just laughed dismissively. It was almost like he was saying, "I used to be beaten in the middle of the field for bowling a bad ball. I have seen much worse at home. Do you think these things bother me?" For the record, Jadeja said, "I know whose opinion matters. I know whom to listen to. I know whom to trust."

"How did you learn it?"

"Life. Life teaches you."

There was deep resentment at his treatment by the selectors and the administration. He mentioned his 24 wickets in his only full series at home, against Australia in 2013. He wondered why he hadn't got another Test in similar conditions. I asked him what the message from the selectors had been. None, he said. I asked him if he had kept in touch with them.

This is when Kotak said: "Chhatrapati? In touch? He doesn't answer anybody's phone nowadays."

In 2014 Jadeja tweeted a message that read, "Need new HATERS the old ones are starting to like me"

That must be the old number he gave me, I said.

No, said Kotak. "It doesn't matter if he loses crores for not answering the phone, but he doesn't. The only way to get in touch with him is to text him, and then he might or might not call back."

At the time of writing Jadeja had made a grand comeback to the Test side, with 23 South African wickets in seven innings at 10.82. He scored crucial lower-order runs, rescuing India repeatedly from 120-odd for 5 or 6. He is firmly the No. 2 spinner in home conditions. He did it as he had done the first time around: without favours, without PR. He is probably taking calls too now.

In 27 years Jadeja has seen more ups and downs than most do in entire lives. On the cricket field he torments Michael Clarke one series in one set of conditions, and becomes the popgun firing darts after dropping a crucial catch in another. He scores three triple-centuries in domestic cricket, but they have brought him more ridicule than admiration. Off the field he is a boy born into poverty who has gone on to discover the splendour that fits his last name by being a loyal foot soldier. And yet that royal life loses its charm in the absence of cricket. A black Accent somewhere in his collection of flashy cars and motorbikes still says, "Life is cricket."

LOGIN TO POST YOUR COMMENTS

Missed this article when it was posted around, glad got to read it now. Thanks for giving insights into his upbringing and eccentricities. Hoping for many more such portraits.

POSTED BY Mahendra Kumar on | February 18, 2016, 9:55 GMT

I believe, he is made for TEST and ODI cricket. In T20s, either he did not get enough balls to bat or could not score in a higher strike rate, however his fielding is best and bowling is ok in this format too.

POSTED BY Plano on | February 12, 2016, 12:40 GMT

Amazing article Siddharth ji. Look forward to more such gems from you sir.
My respect has only gone up for RJ reading how hard he has worked to get here. There was never any doubt in mind about his talent and skills. He has already proven himself as a fielder and bowler. He will with batting too once he gets proper chance to perform with the Bat. As another reader said, one cannot perform as a batsman coming at number 8 in a ODI or T20 when there are only 4 or 5 overs left. You are expected to go after the ball and play risky shots. If he is too shine as a true allrounder he should be promoted in his batting order. I have no doubt that Jaddu will succeed as a Batsman if he could consistently bat in the middle order. Ideally Dhoni should bat at number 5. Jaddu, Rahane and Raina/Yuvraj should rotate at 4, 6 and 7. That way all 3 gets to play in different conditions and get a proper chance to build their innings rather than having to slog from ball number 1.

POSTED BY murli on | February 11, 2016, 5:05 GMT

Beautifully written. It takes a lot of skill to make a reader sit and read through and you Sidharth Monga... u are a rockstar too. Keep writing.

POSTED BY Alex on | February 10, 2016, 19:46 GMT

For me jadeja possess strong mental side. A good ODI bowler. Great fielder. Poor batsman. Lucky to play for india with his limited skill. You have to be right place at right time fits jadeja. I am not at all impressed with jadeja except when he bowls in ODI where batsman can't score runs against him. Otherwise he is simply overhyped especially when his batting is nearly ZERO!.

POSTED BY leftyb7421825 on | February 9, 2016, 10:59 GMT

Azharuddin ,Robin Singh took the are of fielding to another level, all through out the Indian fielding was mediocre.Now the likes of Jadeja & Co have risen the bar a notch higher. Jaddu can walk into the team with his fielding skills especially in the ring.As far his rags to riches story the IPL is full of such stories which cockles one's heart.Hope more and more youth from the rural areas draw inspiration from this maverick cricketer!!

POSTED BY Farhan Ahmad on | February 8, 2016, 16:27 GMT

Loosing your mother when you are 16 still going on to playing for India. What an achievement. Truly Sir Ravindra Jadeja.

POSTED BY Cricinfouser on | February 5, 2016, 13:30 GMT

The Under 19 World Cup was held in 2008 and not in 2006 as mentioned in the piece.

POSTED BY Ron on | February 5, 2016, 1:06 GMT

Always a pleasure to read the man-behind-the-cricketer profiles that Mr Monga does. Almost unfailingly he is able to blend cultural ethos, family history, childhood stories, rise and fall scenes and similar flavours into a story that is both masala and human in right measure. @HARRIS652 and others, the article is not about the cricketer but the man. It is not about right or wrong, it's about the impact. One can be sure that many from the subcontinent can empathize with his struggles and journey, just the odds of someone from his position and background 'making' it to the big leagues are extremely low. It takes hard work, will, character and kismet to reach there. And stories like his are the reason why cricket is madly popular in India: one of the few avenues where the escape hatch from appears the most realistic, relatable and achievable.

POSTED BY Neil on | February 4, 2016, 22:34 GMT

Jadeja is the best Indian fielder by far - perhaps Solkar might be as good. He has a great arm and I've never seen him drop catches. He contains batsmen, but his batting could improve a bit. If it did, he could be playing Test matches. I like him, but not love him yet...great player and a good asset in the shorter formats for India.

POSTED BY Cricinfouser on | February 4, 2016, 17:26 GMT

Fantastic Article on a true cricketer and born warrior of our Indian Team.Love u Jaddu

POSTED BY Rajesh on | February 4, 2016, 16:40 GMT

I really like Jadeja on what he does on the field. I like the way he says 'i know whom to trust', you can achieve nothing if you listen to billion people ridiculing from the comforts of couch, they themselves might have not have achieved anything in their life or not perfect in what they achieved. When people say he cannot bat or bowl - How can he bowl or bat better out of his abilities is beyond my thoughts. Either drop him or ask selectors who has selected him.

Sidharth, this is very good interview even though I would like their family picture in the article but I understand you have tried to get it but couldn't.

POSTED BY Gopalakrishna on | February 4, 2016, 14:30 GMT

What an article, had a lump in my throat while reading. What an enigmatic cricketer and pragmatic person. Wonderful, knowing this person is a true inspiration. There are such great achievers in this world from no where. God bless him and wish he performs better and better for India in future.

POSTED BY Cricinfouser on | February 4, 2016, 12:42 GMT

Excellent Article. Had a lump in my throat while reading it.

POSTED BY Chandan Raj on | February 4, 2016, 12:13 GMT

Excellent Article loved it

POSTED BY Rajagopalan on | February 4, 2016, 10:34 GMT

I somewhat like more sports persons from rural areas like Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, Munaf Patel, Kapil Dev and Dhoni. There is some innocence in their approach and looks more simple and straight unlike the city cricketers.

POSTED BY Ashok on | February 4, 2016, 1:38 GMT

A good attempt but somehow Jadeja comes across a cipher in this article. Considering how nothing could be extracted out of Jadeja, maybe the focus could have been how his sister and the rest of the family & friends supported him. After all that is as much a story for any cricketer. I think the article on Praveen Kumar will remain the gold standard for now.

POSTED BY Amrutur on | February 3, 2016, 21:08 GMT

Somehow, this article looks incomplete. There needed to be pictures of his sister and dad, who seem to be important in his upbringing. This is about the kid from the tough parched lands, some backdrop would have helped, along with regular kids toughing it out. It is not about Jadeja the product, it is the making that is interesting to the reader.

POSTED BY Aubline on | February 3, 2016, 19:28 GMT

If you have to drag up the ridiculous Jadeja / Anderson incident, a bit of impartiality surely isn't too much to ask. If there was no way an England player would testify against Anderson, the same could equally apply to Indian players and Jadeja. The absence of cameras worked both ways too - neither Anderson's version nor Jadeja's could be verified. The possibility that Anderson was correct isn't entertained here. Why?

POSTED BY Pratik Bedia on | February 3, 2016, 18:16 GMT

Monga Ji, this is one hell of an article! Seriously, you just showed us that a person is much more and much deeper than what memes and trolls show him to be. The constant roasting of 'Sir' Ravindra Jadeja has made almost all blind to his superhuman struggles and commendable achievements. Your work is truely appreciable. As MS Dhoni recently told his team: "Don't slip from here!" Cheers! :)

POSTED BY Rajat on | February 3, 2016, 18:15 GMT

Extraordinary article! The best I've read in a long long time. An absolute delight on a fabulous cricketer. Great work, Sidharth!

POSTED BY RAM on | February 3, 2016, 16:17 GMT

Excellent article! about an extraordinary sports man!! Great job by Mr.Sidharth...I always supports Jaddu even others are criticised at him when he fails.I hope, After reading this story, everyone's perception would change. All the best Jaddu, you can do wonders in coming future of Indian Cricket.

POSTED BY UdayLakshman on | February 3, 2016, 13:53 GMT

SID ,what a classical article u written Superb !!! Till now i have misconceptions about Sir Ravindra Jadeja & criticized him many times,But Hats of to JADDU "Life is cricket" It beautifully describes his personal as well as professional life , Wish him a great career ahead!!!

POSTED BY UdayLakshman on | February 3, 2016, 13:50 GMT

SID ,what a classical article u written Superb !!! Till now i have misconceptions about Sir Ravindra Jadeja & criticized him many times,But Hats of to JADDU "Life is cricket" It beautifully describes his personal as well as professional life,Wish him a great career ahead!!!

POSTED BY Shankar Narayan V on | February 3, 2016, 10:31 GMT

Absolutely superb article! Sid Monga you are a top drawer writer

POSTED BY Ketan on | February 3, 2016, 9:22 GMT

Nice article once again. I am following Sid since his article on MSD. This article clears all the misconceptions about RJ. Wish him a great career ahead.

POSTED BY shamanth on | February 3, 2016, 8:43 GMT

brilliant article..cricket monthly has once again lived up to its reputation..jaddu is not all dart bowler now..he is a very useful cricketer..one of the best fielders in the world..brilliant bowler and his batting has not lived up to its potential..hopefully he will get more chances with the bat

POSTED BY Vijayaraghavan on | February 3, 2016, 8:37 GMT

Very well written!! Talent and skill are essential, but that won't give longevity. The personality that you are will only give the focus to keep doing the stuff needed to sustain. Jadeja the cricketer is described very well in "First he is a fielder, then a bowler and finally a batsman" - How he is able to build upon his bowling & batting will decide his longevity. This article throws light that he has the attitude to do it!!

POSTED BY kumar on | February 3, 2016, 8:35 GMT

What a classical piece you have written, amazing amalgamation of emotions with grit! Superb writing for the marvelous character Jadeja!! After reading this article I was compelled to regenerate my cricinfo password, which i was forgotten, and login to write few words about your powerful article!!

POSTED BY mahesh on | February 3, 2016, 7:17 GMT

as usual ur articles are superb but this time around its beyond any word i know to put it properly! Thnx from the bottom of my heart for warming it ...Hats of to u JADDU what ever happens hereafter respect and love is always urs

POSTED BY Khem on | February 3, 2016, 4:40 GMT

I couldn't stop my tears after reading this wonderful article by Sid Monga. The entire writing is awesome but I just love the last two sentences "Off the field he is a boy born into poverty who has gone on to discover the splendour that fits his last name by being a loyal foot soldier. And yet that royal life loses its charm in the absence of cricket. A black Accent somewhere in his collection of flashy cars and motorbikes still says, "Life is cricket." '' It beautifully describes his personal as well as professional life.

POSTED BY Dev on | February 3, 2016, 3:57 GMT

Had to log in just to commend Mr. Monga on a fabulous article. Wish they had a 'Best Cricket Article Award' at the ICC annual show!

POSTED BY P on | February 3, 2016, 0:28 GMT

I have always liked Jadeja for his spunk and fighting spirit. He hasn't received the credit for the match winner he is - the number of times he has delivered for India but failed to be recognized, and in all 3 formats, has always astounded me. Others, have gotten their fair share of credit and some like Kohli & Ashwin have gone on to reach a completely different level of consistency and class but both had struggled in early parts of their careers. Now reading this article makes me understand this disparity better. Jadeja's modest background and conditions under which he got his coaching, playing time and uphill climb to play for India are clearly factors. He is indeed selfless by doing what has been asked of him. He could have pursued personal stats and PR campaigns to lift his profile but he has done what his captain (and perhaps coaches) asked of him and put that (and perhaps India) ahead of his interests. I wish he would become a more consistent player. India needs him. Good luck!

POSTED BY Frank on | February 2, 2016, 23:58 GMT

As everyone else has commented, this is a wonderful article, very illuminating, and quite touching. Being one who likes to bet on cricket, I have probably cursed and cheered Jadeja in roughly equal measure, but I can see now he is a man in possession of admirable qualities.

POSTED BY Kunal on | February 2, 2016, 19:43 GMT

Excellent article. This is what we read cricinfo and tcm for, I must say. I like Jadeja, but feel he brings little to the team when there are no turners. But this may change that view for me. I do really hope he makes it big on the international scene.

POSTED BY Ramya on | February 2, 2016, 19:18 GMT

Amazing Article! There has been life stories of cricketers there and about, but the story of a teenaged boy losing his mother at his transition of becoming a renowned cricketer, is something that strikes the innermost cord of your heart. Ive known his story for long, wished someone would bring it out in the open, in the right manner possible, glad to see it here.

This is a lovely piece from the inimitable Mr. Monga, but I have a request: please let us not hero-worship Jadeja's first coach Mr. Chauhan. His methods are cruel, horrible and pathetic. Jadeja has done so well in spite of such training and who knows the countless others who have been scarred from life.

POSTED BY partha on | February 2, 2016, 18:24 GMT

A fascinating story about a remarkable sportsman and an extraordinary man. I read it with rapt attention. I will remember what you wrote every time I watch Jadeja play or read about him.

POSTED BY Yogesh on | February 2, 2016, 16:31 GMT

Great Article. Hats off to Ravndra Jadeja.

POSTED BY Srikanth Durbhakula on | February 2, 2016, 14:52 GMT

Great article. Very nicely written. Unassuming cricketer. Dhoni knows the value of his players, who can turn in day in day out. Look at Jadeja's fitness..... Amazing. Hats OFF Jaddu!!

POSTED BY Rupesh on | February 2, 2016, 14:31 GMT

Great job by Monga in brining out the person behind the cricketer. I always thought that Jadeja provides an 'X factor'. An extra wicket here, a great catch there, a few saved runs or a run out. You can see with his tough upbringing how he always gives it all. Never take it easy, never take it for granted, never relax, always 'on' on the field. Such players often make the difference between winning and losing. Statistically doesn't look like a huge contribution, but it is the X factor. Good luck to him.

POSTED BY Sreekanth on | February 2, 2016, 14:28 GMT

@MERVO ON - Is Durban on Day-2 where SA made 500 a turning pitch? How come Jadeja took 6 wickets in that innings?

POSTED BY Unni on | February 2, 2016, 12:58 GMT

Good one Sid. More than the interview with Sir RJ, its the interesting tidbits of his childhood and early days that is such a pleasure to watch. He sounded a tad cocky not answering phone calls etc.

POSTED BY Anthony on | February 2, 2016, 12:46 GMT

Lovely article! Good, inspirational stuff. One thing I have noticed about Jadeja is that he isn't in the limelight at all. He doesn't want it. He doesn't need it. A hard working cricketer, someone who is often underrated. He is still not being utilised fully by the Indian team, especially his batting in ODIs and Tests. The guy who has scored 3 triple centuries shouldn't be coming in at number 8 when there's only 3 or 4 overs remaining. Promote the lad. He has a wonderful batting technique when in full flow. And his fielding is definately the best in the world. Keep rocking Jaddu bhai!

POSTED BY Nirav on | February 2, 2016, 12:39 GMT

In a country of billions anyone making into team India has always a story behind it; it's ok; but this guy have still a lot to prove. Take my word; once Virat is captain. Plus of Dhoni is he promotes & selects players despite non-performance, he could do that if he is playing for Ranchi; but when it comes for India; it should be country first. I hope Jadeja starts contributing with BAT as well.

POSTED BY manish on | February 2, 2016, 12:11 GMT

Really beautifully made a portrayed of a young gun of the India's t-20 team with the juggling words. He will be going to create history in the coming days of era of Indian cricket which is now based on the yougistan.

POSTED BY Hemal on | February 2, 2016, 11:58 GMT

Hi Sid, Nice Article but just to correct the facts, the story you said in the first section (Brave Hare) is for AHMEDABAD and not for Jamnagar !!

POSTED BY Praneet Vajpayee on | February 2, 2016, 11:25 GMT

It's perhaps going to be the best article I would have read at the end of the year.

POSTED BY A on | February 2, 2016, 10:52 GMT

nice satire article.... wooohooooo ............ rockstar... lolz.

POSTED BY Merv on | February 2, 2016, 10:33 GMT

Well written, but Jadeja the 'rock star' is all hype and little substance. His batting is deplorable and he only succeeds in bowling on a raging turner where the pitch does the work. He is more a medium pace bowler, who has terrible international achievements. where his poor length and flight are exposed. So, nice writing but I can't agree that the player is anything special at all.

POSTED BY k on | February 2, 2016, 10:13 GMT

a really wonderful piece of writing,. well done on writing such a detailed and insightful article. we indians love our heroes but are also guilty of knocking them down again, often forgetting they have feelings, stories, complications, just like us. well played sidharth and well played ravindra jadeja. together you brought a tear to my eye but made my heart swell too. namaste.

POSTED BY Cricinfouser on | February 2, 2016, 9:58 GMT

Wow ... My compliments to you Sid Monga for this beautifully written piece ! I have always admired Jaddu bhai for his spunk and grit. By far the most athletic Indian cricketer and an excellent fielder

POSTED BY Ramnarayan on | February 2, 2016, 9:57 GMT

The real Siddharth Monga! Terrific writing and great empathy. Well done and keep writing such brilliant stories.

POSTED BY Shivang on | February 2, 2016, 9:51 GMT

Sometimes adversity seem to bring out the best in individuals.. this man should truly be called 'Sir' with what he will eventually achieve... Hats off to his sister cum mother for sacrificing her own life to make sure her brother gets to do what he loved doing... Finally, very well composed Sid Monga!

POSTED BY Cricinfouser on | February 2, 2016, 9:48 GMT

An excellent article, Sid Monga! I always believe that one should put oneself in the other man's position before passing any comments. With the story, I know why Jaddu doesn't take the cynical comments seriously. As he says, life has taught him much more than to get offended by these silly comments.

Well done Jaddu, Good luck for your future.

POSTED BY piyush on | February 2, 2016, 9:32 GMT

This type of articles makes us feel that the reality is much more HARD then what it looks. Just how easy is it for us to criticize Jaddu each time he failed. This article will make many fans like me to look at his performance in a different way. To be honest I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM PLAY FOR SAVING HIS PLACE IN THE TEAM. Jaddu along with most modern Indian players gives their best each time they are on the field. So what ever fans of other countries says, first we Indian fans need to learn to value our players.

POSTED BY Bhupesh on | February 2, 2016, 9:21 GMT

Amazing article, I wasn't the big fan of Jadeja but I think now I might be. It's nice to see that he doesn't care about Sir Jadeja jokes and he knows whose opinions matters.

Jaddu bhai, we will be always with you. Hope you keep performing and exceeding all our expectations.

POSTED BY Bhavinkumar on | February 2, 2016, 8:54 GMT

What a wonderful piece of article. Even when people calls him Sir now there is less of laugh init and more of respect. Amazing story, amazing person and great cricket. Three triple centuries even on flat pitch is great achievement. Not even greats of Indian cricket has achieve that and for that he deserve to be respected. Love the guys love the rockstar. Highlight of his carrier is Sword dance in face of whole english cricket team and crowed at home of Cricket. Well done Sir and very best of luck..

POSTED BY Dhiraj on | February 2, 2016, 8:54 GMT

Good article Monga, as always!! Always look forward to your articles. Never been a big fan of Jadeja, in fact a big critic but this article will make me reassess his performances. All the best, Jadeja!!

POSTED BY Vinay on | February 2, 2016, 8:44 GMT

Kya baat hai! Such a beautiful article on such an amazing personality! Thanks a lot for bringing this to us

POSTED BY sanjay on | February 2, 2016, 8:39 GMT

this really was a very touching article.

POSTED BY Cricinfouser on | February 2, 2016, 8:29 GMT

Amazing article. Journey of a young man from rural India to midst of it all . Proves that cynics that "cricket is like religion in India".

POSTED BY arjun on | February 2, 2016, 8:29 GMT

superb article, we are always with you jaddu bhai. be a phenix

POSTED BY Cricinfouser on | February 2, 2016, 7:47 GMT

Regarding the Anderson incident, the charge ECB laid was much more ridiculous: "turning around and looking at him". Cmon. And you are telling the Indians to man up.

POSTED BY Vasudevan on | February 2, 2016, 7:10 GMT

Beautifully portrayed an enigmatic cricketer. Anyone reading this would become an instant fan of RJ.